Minotaur I rocket launched Tuesday night

The Minotaur I rocket launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday night, deploying a U.S. Air Force demonstration satellite in space, along with 28 miniature satellites.

The launch was part of the Air Force's Enabler Mission to demonstrate improvements for NASA and the military, NASA officials said. It is also part of the process for the Federal Aviation Administration to certify the Minotaur rocket for commercial use.

Hampton resident Kevin Cere, his wife and two young children were among 25 or so people who watched the rocket launch from Buckroe Beach in Hampton.

"Since the shuttle got disconnected, essentially, this is going to be the best chance to give them a launch experience," he said.

From Buckroe Beach, clouds blocked the launch at times, but Cere's children were excited about getting to see it nonetheless.